Elevation 1,535 ft (468 m) | Country United States Period Silurian | |
Length 25 mi (40 km) east-west Width 1–2 mi (1.6–3.2 km) north-south Types of rock Tuscarora Formation, Shawangunk Formation | ||
Nesquehoning Mountain or Nesquehoning Ridge is a 15–17-mile-long (24–27 km) coal bearing ridge dividing the waters of Lehigh Valley and the Poconos to the north from the Schuylkill River valley and the several near parallel ridgelines of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians barrier range all of which runs generally WSW-ENE in the greater area along the Southern Anthracite Region north of the escarpment Blue Mountain, Pennsylvania. in part providing the source waters for Nesquehoning Creek a tributary of the Lehigh River in the Poconos of eastern Pennsylvania in the United States.
Contents
Map of Nesquehoning Mountain, Rush Township, PA 18240, USA
Watersheds dividedEdit
Nesquehoning Creek originates both in a forested area on the slopes of Broad Mountain at an elevation somewhat in excess of 1360 ft on USGS topological maps, as well as above Tamaqua gap and Tamaqua in a saddle pass connecting with Broad Mountain. It flows south for about 2 miles (3.2 km) then turns to the northeast and flows into Greenwood Lake. Approximately 600 feet (180 m) downstream from the spillway, it discharges into Lake Hauto. It then continues to the northeast in a relatively narrow valley. The stream then travels down a narrow undeveloped section to its confluence with the Lehigh River.
The heavily forested, relatively steep slopes of Broad and Nesquehoning Mountains characterize the land within the watershed.
The Nesquehoning Creek valley consists of some residential and industrial development. Urban development is concentrated in the Borough of Nesquehoning and Hometown.
Large areas in the valley have been disturbed by coal mining related activities. Much of the runoff from strip mines is retained in abandoned pits and therefore lesser amounts of surface runoff is discharged into Nesquehoning Creek.